Process and apparatus for vulcanizing articles



May 5, 1925. mmm'z J. L. G. E'JlKEfi PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING ARTICLES Fijled Sept. '7, 1920 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m www 3 Shets-Sheet 5 J. L. G. DYKES PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING ARTICLES Filed Sept. '7, 1920 may 5, 1925.

Patented May 5, i925.

tartan PROCESS AND APPARATUQ FOR VULGANIZIENfi-t application filedteptcmber 7. 1920 Serial Ha. accent.

To all whom it may, COILCGT'IA Be it known that I, JOHN L. hi. Dumas, a citizen of the United States of America. and a resident of Chicago. Illinois. have invented a. certain new and useful Improvenlent in Processes and Apparatus for ulcanizing Articles; of which the following is a" specification.

'lhis'invention relates to the apparatus and method of making inner flaps for pneumatic tires. As is well known, pneumatic tires oi certain kinds are provided With an inner inflatable tube, and the edges or" the til-ceasing which is ordinarily divided at the base. are held in a rim, and provided with an inner flap to prevent the inner tube from coming in contact with said rim. The said flap ordinarily consists of fabric and rubber moulded and vulcanized in the proper or de" sired shape, and the flap is usually attachei'l at one edge thereof to one side of the tire sheath or casing so that it is loose at the other side to permit the insertion and re moval of said inflatable tuhe. Various schemes have been proposed and employed "for the manufacture of these pneumatic tire flaps. Preferably, a. flap of this kind is moulded and vulcanized in such a manner that it naturally assumes an annular form -with its edges outward so that when in the tire it is like a hoop which is trougrh-shapml in cross section. and being moulded and ruleanizcd in this form is not under tension. Other methods approximate this result. more or less. and in some instances the flaps are son'iewhat distorted and are under some ten sion when in use in the tire. depending upon the process or method of manufacture. Va,- rious efforts have been made to inanuhicture these flaps as cheaply as possible without re ducing their efliciency.

Generally stated. therefore. the object of the tiiverition is to pro ide an improved process or method and,apparatus for inanufacturing pueuinatic tire flaps in such a man nor that they can not only be produced much more cheaply. and in greater quantities. than heretofore. hut also'in such form that they will be satisfactory a id reliable in use.

It is also an ohjectto provide certain de tails and features of construction and com 'binations tending to increase the genera-lv eitficiency and the desirability of a method and apparatus of this particular character and for this particular purpose.

To these and other useful ends the haven Lion consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed, and shown in the accompany lug! drawings. in which Fig. 1 is a planof a-tire flap mawng apparatus embodying the principies of the invention.

' Fig; 2 an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 a transverse section on line 3-?! in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a li'ingitudinal vertical section on line 4- 4- in Fig. 1.

As thus illustrated. the invention comprises a base 1 upon which is suitably mounted a' cylinder or drum 52 disposed horizontall v thereon. it being stationary and rigid therewith. A. rotary drum is arranged within said stationary drum. said rotary drum comprising an inner cylinder 3-3 rovided with cylindriiouter sections 4. Mess sections havinr their cylin dric surfaces pr vided with a spiral groove 5 of suitable depth and widtl The cylinder 3 has e stem or journal. 0 at the receiving mounted in a hearing 7 which i be readily separated or opened to perish insertion of the sections 4 within the outer cylindczgand upon the inner evlindi-r 3. the hitter having one. thereof,

a imin'itudinal spline 8 to permit the: sections in slide longitudinaliy thereon. but whereby said sections must rotate with the inner cylinder. The hearing T 1:; preferably carried on a swinging arm 5) which can be swung out of the way to permit the intro- :luctiou oi the sections t within the outer cylinder. The stem or journal has a gear wheel in which engages the gear wheel 11 carried on the wringing arm 12. the latter lz-eiun' supported bf the drive shaft 13which is provided. with a pinion 1-; to engage the gear wheel 11. 'wllcrehv the rotation of this shaft causes the slower rotation of the notary drum. The arm '12 has its lower end pro vidcd with a removable pin l5 which can be inserted and removed [0 permit the gear win-rill to he disengaged from the gear wheel in when such is necessary or desirable. as in the operation of introducing more sec tions 4 within the outer cylinder. The arm 12 can he supported in its depressed position by inserting the pin 15 in the hole 16 formed in the base or'body of the machine. A steam pipe 1'? extends through the stem or journal 6 to suppiy steam to the interior of the cylinder 3 for vulcanizing purposes. Ball'hear' all) rings 18, oi any suitable character, engage the spiral groove 5 in the sections lto cause the letter gradually shift to the left, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, by the screwaction obtained with this construction, so that the ions gradually slide to the left on the oylf. der 3, thus making room at the right for afresh sections. These sections a can be of any suitable, known or approved material, 'and are of less diameter than the interior of the stationary out-er cylinder 2, so that the entire rotary drum canrotate freely about its horisontal and longitudinal axis. An endless belt 19, preferably cylindric in cross section, is wound upon the rotary drum, in

the spiral groove 5, and is supported outside of the machine on a spiral roller (not shown) or in any suitable manner.

In use, the web Q0, in the form of a long strip of iabric and rubber, supplied from any suitable source, such as a large roll, is fed under the guide roller 21 at one side of the machine, and then upwardly to a point where it will catch and hold under the belt. 19, this causing the web to feed into the spiral groove 5 under thebelt. Rotation of the cylinder 3 will cause the web to be wound upon the rotary drum in the spiral groove formed in the outer removable sections 4;, and the belt 19 will stretch the web and'oause it to assume a trough-like form in cross section, as shown in a, as well as the spiral form which it assumes from being wound in the spiral groove. The steam in the cylinder 3 furnishes heat enough-to vulcanize the rubbcrof the Web, in a manner that willbe readily understood, and the sections 4 gradually slide to the left, the rotation of the drum being slow-enough, of course, to keep the web in the machine long enough to insure proper vulcanization thereof. As the sections 4 gradually emerge from the left hand end of the machine, they will drop down, and the spiral and vulcanized web thereon can be removed in any suitable manner. and as the web is thus fed out of the machine in spiral form it can be cut ofi from'tizne to time as may be necessary or desirable. As shown, a rack comprisinga pair of cvlindri guides 22 is provided in position to receive the discharged sections 4-, with the vulcanized web thereon, and with this construction the spirally grooved sections with thespiraland vulcanized web thereon will gradually feed around and accumulate on the rack, the latter being curved around from the end of the machine and then arranged to extend parallel with the horizontal and longitudinal axis about which the drum rotates. '(ltlier arrangements, of course, can be provided. for taking care or" the rotary drum sections as fast as they are pushed out of the discharge end of the machine by the screw action of the ball bearings '18, the

:acsaoev latter causing the sections 4: to gradually work along to the left as the .drum is rotated.

The web thus stretched and shaped and vulcanized can be cut into lengths suitable for the flaps of the pneumatic tires. The flaps will have the desired trough-like formation in cross section, and the spiral formation will not interfere with their use in the pneumatic tires, as the two ends of each flap can be brought together, so that when in use in the tire the flap will have the annular or ring-like shape necessary to enable it to conform to the rim and base portions oi the tire. The entire spiral web, or any section thereof, will appear annular, of course, when viewed from the sidethat is, when viewed in the direction of the axis of the spiral. \Vhen viewed at right angles to said 'uxis, the web. or any section thereof, appears spiral: but the convolutions are all of the same diameter, and this is the same diameter, or approximately so. that the flap has when in the tire. Thus the invention contc 'iu'ilates the reduction of a long straight web to spiral form, and the stretching and shaping of the same to make it trouglrlike in cross section, and the conversion of this spiral and trough-sha1. cdweb into flaps for pneumatic tires. The (rough-like formation brings the edges toward each other, so that they are outward, and thus the trough or groove on the outside oi the spiral web. This is also true. oi course. of the finished product. as in the finished flap the edges thereof are of greater diameter than the base or bottom oi the trough or channel thus formed by the stietcliing oi the web in the spiral groove-of themachinc. The apparatus or machine may, therefore, be of any suitable character. that shown being merely illustrative of the invention.

ll will be soon that the materials. of any suitable or desired character. for the production of any desired article of manufacture, are causedto travel a spiral path of travel formed in any suitable or desired manner. lmt'pre'ferably involving a rotary drum and endless belt-like means wound spirally around the drum. whereby the spiral path oi travel is provided for the rubber or similar materials to be vulcanized to produce the desired articles of manufacture. Y I

C0nsequcntl v,the unvulcanizcd materials feed in at one point, while at the some time the vulcanized materials feed out zit-another point, and. the process is continuous and there is practically no limit to the length of the thing or things to be vulcanized.

The apparatus is shown more or less diagrammatically, of course, for the broad idea of using a spiral path of travel for the thing or things to be vulcanized or treated can be employed in any suitable apparatus trough-like with the channel thereof facing outward when viewedn f'n cross section, and vulcaniaing the web nhile rotating in this condition.

I 2. The process specified iii claim 1. .in which shid web is subdivided into length after being :rulcanized as stated. eacii length being suliici'ent for a tlap.- 3. The process specified in claim 1. in which the shaping of the .web renders itsp ml in Ol'll'l and in which this web is supplied rom a continuous strip and is rotated about the aids ot' the spiral during the stretching and shaping and vulcanizing thereof.

4. The process specified in claim 1. in which the shaping and stretchimr operation vreduces the web to spiral form during the which the web is till rotation and vub-anizing thereof.

5. The process specified in claim 1. in pcd progressively along the length therer 6. Apparatus i snaking pneumatic the inner flaps, compri a rotary drum having a spiral groor herein. means to feed the fabric and rubber web to said groove, and means to press the web into said groove, said pressing means and said groove cooperating to make the web trough-like in cross section. with the channel thereof lacing outward, and means for rotating said drum to simultancously draw the untorined material into the apparatus and discharge the formed material. therefrom.

7. Apparatus as specified in claim (5, said pressing means comprising a belt which is wound spirally in said groove.

8. Apparatus as specified in claim 6, said spiral groove being provided by sections which are splined on the drum and which are gradually t'ed along from the receiving end of the drum to the delivery end thereof, so that these sections are discharged successively from the drum with the stretched web thereon, and means to supply heat to said drum to vnlcanize the web.

J. Apparatus as specified in claim 6, and means to supply heat to said drum to vulcanize the web while following said groove.

10., lh'e process oi vulcanizing rubber material, comprising the establishing of an area of sufl'icient heat to vulcanize the material, feeding the material spirally to said area, thereby causing the material to follow a spiral path while rotating about-the axis of the spiral, and vulcanizing: the material while thus moving through said area in spiral formation, whereby the unvulcanized material cnters at one end of said spiral path, while the vulcanized material leaves at the other end of the spiral.

11. The process specified in claim 10. and stretching said materials to make them trough shaped in cross .section with the channel thereof faring outward.

12. The process specified in claim it). and compressing said materials by moving means spirally applied to progressively vnlcauize the materials in the desired form.

13. In apparatus tor shaping materials in. the desired form, the continuation of forming, means to receive the materials. and spiral means to press the materials into said Forming means and for causing the matehfials to follow a spiral path of travel "wliile beingshaped.

14. Apparatus specified in claim 33. in combination with heating means to vulcanize said mate-rials during the forming; thereof, whereby the unvulcanized materials feed in at one end of said path of travel. while the vulcanized materials are at the same time ted out at the other end of saidpath.

15. Apparatus as specified in claim 13, said formingmeans being a spiral grobve. and said pressing means being flexible to follow-said groove, together with iustru mentalities for rotating the forming i'ncans about the axisoi the spiral.

16. Apparatus for rulcanizing materials. comprisinp a rotary core, means for feed ing the materials spirally to said core, means to feed the core and the .matcrials axially thereof. and means to heat.- said core tovul canizc said materials in spiral form.

17. In apparatus [or vulcanizing rubber articles, the combination oi means to establish a spiral path oi travel for the stock from which the desired article is to be made, means for feeding the stock to said spiral path of travel, means in the form of a belt traveling spirally over the stock, and means v for heating the vstock to vulcanizing temperature while traveling in said path.

18. Apparatus for vulcanizing rubber articles, comprising means to form a spiral forming and vulcanizing path for the stock from which the desired. article is to be made, including a belt wound spirally to travel with the stock, and means for feeding the stock to said path of travel.

19. The process of vulcanizing rubber articles, comprising feeding the stock along a spiral path of travel and heating the stock to vulcanizing temperature while thus travcling in spiral formation in said. path, so that the stock is vulcanizing while being wound in spiral formation.

20. In apparatus for vulcanizing rubber articles, the combination of means to support the stock from which the articles are to be made, and forming means comprising a belt shaped in cross section to co-operate with said supporting means to give the stock the shape desired for said articles. together with means for causing said belt to follow a spiral path of travel. and means for supplying heat: to vuleanizefihe stock While under pressure by said belt and while following said path of travel.

21. A structure as specified inclaiin 20, said belt being wound spirally, and said supporting means being formed to receive the stock spirally thereon. so that the stock follows a spiral path of travel between said supporting; means and said belt, and means for turning the apparatus about the axis of the spiral during the vulcanizing operation.

22. A structure as specified in clain'i 20, in combination \vith'mechanism for driving said belt to cause the spirally wound portion thereof to revolve around the axis of the spiral during the vulranizing operation.

23. In apparatus for vulcanizing' a long flexible rubber or rubber composition article, the combination of a vulcanizing drum having a circumferential forming and vulcanizing spiral groove, means to feed the article to said groove, means to rotate the drum during the vulcanizing operation.

rubber or rubber composition article, comprising the establishment of a vulcanizing areaof sutliicient temperature, feeding said article lengthwise through said area, along a spiral path of travel, and thus keeping said article moving lengthwise during the vulcanization thereof, so that the vulcanization is progressive 'l'rom one end of said article to the. other end thereof, the unvulcanized material feeding in at one end of said spiral path of travel, and the vulcanized material feeding out at the other end of said path of travel.

25.. The recess of vulcanizin a. rubber bf travel thereof.

means":

or rubber composition article, comprising the vulcanization of said article in-suecessive stages,-i-along a spiral path of travel, so that the vulcanization progresses from one end of saidfarticle to the other end thereof.

2-6. In vulcanizinp, apparatus, the combination of instrumentalities to form a spiral path of travel for the materials to be vulcanized, devices for causing the materials to have movement along said path of travel at the desired rate of speed for vulcanizing purposes, and means to apply vulcanizing heat to said materialswhile moving along said spiral path of travel, whereby the proc ess is continuous and the material simultaneously feed. in at one point and feed out at another point.

27. A structure as specified in claim 26, said ii'istrunientalities comprising a rotary drum around which said spiral path of travel is formed, so that the axis of the spiral is coincident with the axis of the drum. and said drum having an interior heating chamber forming part of said means for supplying vulcanizing heat to said materials.

28. A structure as specified in claim 26, comprising an endless belt wound spirally to hold said materials in said spiral path 29. In apparatus for forming; materials into the desired shape, the combination of 2 The process of vulcanizmg a longinstrumentalities to form a spiral path of travel for the materials .to be treated, devices for causing the materials to have movement along said ath of travel at the desired rate of speed 'or treatment thereof, and means for operating said devices during treatment of the materials, whereby the process is continuous and the materials are fed in and treated at one point and fed out in formed and treated condition at another point, While the materials between these two points are moving along said path to m-iceive the desired treatment.

JOHN L. G. DYKES. 

